Tabulating mechanism for type-writing machines.



G.-.O. HOSKIN.

TABULATING MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

' APPLICATION FILED 212.28, 1911. 1,021 675, Patented Mar. 26,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS ANoh ilAPli co-. WASHINGTON. D. c.

G. c. HOS KIN. TABULATING MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITING MAGHINES.

APPLICATION FILED T15R28, 1911.

Patented Mar. 26,1912. 2 slums-B ET 2.

WITNESSES A TTORNEYS COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH CO.,WASHINGTON. D. C.

GEORGE o. HosKIN; or NEVADA, IOWA.

TAIBULATING MEOHAITISM FOB, TYPE-WRITING. MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

Application filed. February 28, 1911. Serial No. 611,369.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE C. HosKIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident ofNevada, in the county of Story and State of Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Tabulating Mechanism for Type-Writing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: to provide a typewriting machine with a tabulating mechanism having selective means for altering the arrested position of the platen-with reference to the tabulating stop whereby the tabulating mechanism may be utilized for columns arranged in order to receive numerals in accord with the decimal system; to provide operative means for a tabulating mechanism of the character mentioned constructed and arranged to position the stop member in advance of releasing the carriage; and to simplify the construction of a mechanism of the character mentioned.

One embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure l is a vertical cross section, on an enlarged scale, of a tabulating mechanism constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention, and shown in conjunction with a fragment of the'frame of a type- 33 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail view in perspective of the key bar of the tabulating mechanism; and Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective of a space bar of the tabulating mechanism.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the tabulating mechanism is supported on the typewriting machine frame'and on the front bar 10 thereof. The invention is shown in connection with a class of typewriting machines known in the trade as the Oliver machine. It is, however, adapted to other makes with slight changes in the form and arrangement of the various members.

As shown, the bar 10 is provided with a bracket 11 to support a bolt 12 which is provided as a pivot for the key bars 13, 13 and the space bars 14. The bolt 12 also serves as a pivot for the yoke 15 to which is connected the finger 16. The upper end of the finger 16 is extended through a slot 17 formed in the forward end of a plate 18. The. plate 18 is loosely mounted on the spindle 19 of a feed sprocket wheel 20. The plate 18 is held on the said spindle by means of a cap screw 21. The slot 17 is elongated, as shown, to permit lost motion of the'finger 16. The spindle 19 is of usual construction, and is pivotally mounted in a bracket plate 22 by means of a nipple 23. The mounting of the nipple 23 is rounded to permit the sway or cant of the spindle 19 shown in the drawings, and particularly in Fig. 1. The spindle is canted, as shown by the dotted lines, to free the carriage 24 from engagement with a feed wheel 25. In the forward position of the, feed wheel 25, as shown by the full lines in the drawings, the teeth of the wheel engaging the rack of the carriage limit the advance thereof. When drawn out of engagement with the carriage the carriage is permitted to run the full length of the runway, or to a station provided intermediate the ends of the runway. The spindle 19 and wheel 25 carried thereby are returned to their normal position by means of a spring 26.

The space bars 14, 14 are each provided with a stop block 27. The blocks 27 are shaped substantially as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 ofthe drawings, each having an extension 28 to rest in the channel of the guide bracket 29. The bracket 29 is rigidly secured by means of bolts 30, 30 to the frame of the machine, and is provided to regulate the upward lift of the blocks 27, placing, when lifted, said blocks directly in the path of the tabulator set block with which the carriage 24 is provided. It will be noted that the blocks 27, 27 are nested in close relation. Further, the space from center to center of the said blocks is equal to a type or tabulating column space. In their normal position the bars 14 are disposed to rest the extensions 28 on the bottom rail of the bracket 29, being held in such position by means of springs 31, 31. The springs 31, 31 are connected with an arm'32 formed .on each of the bars 14. The said springs are threaded through eyelets formed in an anchor bar 33. The anchor bar 33 is fixedly attached to the front bar 10, as shown in the drawings. The bars 14 are lifted to the position shown in dot-ted lines in Fig. 1

when the key bars 13 are depressed, as also shown in dotted lines in said figure. Each key bar 13 is connected with one of the space bars 14 by means of a spring 34. The springs 34 are formed of stronger material than the springs 31, exerting a more powerful pull than the said springs 31. As a consequence of this construction, when the key bars 13 are depressed the springs 31 are stretched, permitting the arm 32 to be drawn upon by the springs 34 to raise the space bars 14 to the position shown in dotted lines, and to rest the extensions 28 under and in contact with the upper flange of the bracket 29. In this position the various stop blocks 27 are each held in the path of the tabulating set block 35 of the tabulating mechanism which is adjusted on. the carriage 24.

In the operation of the present machine the blocks 27 are used as space blocks to govern the particular space of the column in which is to be placed the first numeral of the number to be printed. In the present drawings the tabulating mechanism is provided with five key pads 36, 36, providing thus for a column of five spaces. To illustrate the action it will be imagined that the operator wishes to print the number 53650.00. The first numeral, 5, would then fall in the first space. To accomplish this the operator depresses the key pad marked 5. The carriage being thus arrested in tabulating position the key bar of the tabulating machine would be released, permitting the further operation of the carriage to be governed by the feeding mechanism. The succeeding numbers would then be placed in position, the carriage shifting in conformity with the ordinary feeding mechanism. If, however, the number to be printed be 30.50, the operator, knowing that the first numeral of the number falls in the second column space, depresses the key pad marked 2. This raises the space bar 14 and the block 27 connected therewith corresponding to the key bar 13 carrying the pad marked 2, and the carriage 24 is arrested in position to receive the imprint of the numeral 3, being the first numeral of the number to be printed. It will be understood that the key bars and pads attached thereto are employed indicatively of the number of spaces in the column preceding the decimal; thus, if the number to be printed was .04, the operator would depress the key pad marked 1, to he succeeded by operating the space bar of the machine to shift the carriage one space to the left, knowing that by depressing the key 1 he had placed the machine in position to receive the numeral in the unit space of the column. By shifting the carriage one space he places the carriage in position to receive the decimal mark. The succeeding figures to the right of the decimal mark are then printed.

In the operation of the key bars 13 and the space bars 14, and by reason of the difference of the tensile strength of the springs 31 and 34, the space bar is lifted in position prior to the key bar striking the yoke 15. A further depression of the key bar 13 depresses the yoke 15, drawing downwardly and outwardly the finger 16. The finger 16 by its engagement with the plate 18 draws outward the top of the spindle 19, releasing the engagement of the feed wheel 25 with the rack of the carriage 24. Prior to the complete release of the teeth of the wheel 25 from the rack of the carriage 24 the teeth of the said wheel on the opposite side thereof are engaged by the stretched spiral spring 37. The spring 37 is stretched between and anchored in the finger ends 38, 38 of the plate 39. The plate 39 is fixedly mounted by means of screws 40, 40 to the fixed structure of the typewriting machine. In this manner the wheel 25 is held against displacement during the period of release of the carriage 24. Thus it will be noted in the order named the blocks 27 are set in the position prior to the release of the carriage 24. After the carriage has been arrested the depressed key pad 36 is released, when the spring 34 lifts the key bar 13 until the shoulder 41 formed thereon strikes upon the stop pin 42. The yoke 15 follows the key bar 13, being moved thereto by the spring 26 which bears against the spindle 19, and through the connections, the plate 18 and the finger 16. The yoke 15 is lifted to its normal position where the wheel 25 is engaged with the carriage 24, prior to the key bar attaining a position where the strain between the springs 31 and 34 is equalized. The remainder of the movement of the key bar is due to the contraction of the spring 31, the said spring 31 lifting the key bar 13 and the arm 32 of the space bar 14. Lifting the arm 32 of the space bar 14 results in depressing the end of the space bar bearing the block 27. In the above described action it will be noted that the carriage is released from the tabulating mechanism, and that prior to such release the feeding mechanism of the tabulating machine is placed in engagement with the said carriage.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a tabulating mechanism for typewriting machines, the combination with a plurality of spacing blocks normally held out of and adapted to be moved into the path of the platen carrier, of a plurality of key bars; springs to normally depress said spacing blocks; springs connecting said spacing blocks and said key bars to support said key bars, said last mentioned springs having greater tension than the first mentioned springs to insure the lift of the said blocks by the depression of said key bars; a pivotally mounted yoke disposed in the path of said key bars to rock thereby when said key bars are depressed to lift the said spacing blocks; and transmission means connecting said yoke and the feeding mechanism for said platen carrier to release the said carrier when said yoke is depressed.

2. In a tabulating mechanism for typewriting machines, the combination With-the escapement pinion of said machine of a stationary yoke the ends whereof are disposed in the plane of the path of said escapement pinion; a spiral spring extended between the ends of said yoke; and manually operative means for moving said escapement pinion from engagement with the platen carrier of said machine, the said spring being disposed to engage the said pinion prior to the said pinion releasing the said carrier.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE G. HOSKIN.

Witnesses:

A. R. SMOUsE, A. L. BAYLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

